Baraclough delighted with strikeforce

Ian Baraclough continued his impressive start to life at Sligo Rovers with a win over Dundalk last night, and is pleased that he has gotten his new side off to their best start in 75 years and win so convincingly after his side's second half performance.

"It is (a great start), It's our best start since '36, the lads have gone and earned that right, they are making their own history and with performances in the second half performances like that throughout the season who knows where this team could go, but at the moment we're still in the early stages. 

"We aren't the finished article and to put us alongside a team like Shamrock Rovers who have probably been the most successful club in recent history is maybe going a bit far at the moment but we're there to be shot at, people will expect, we'll be scrutinised and we've got to live up to that."

Goals certainly weren't a problem for The Bit O'Red when they found their rhythm in the second half, and Baraclough is pleased that Danny North is off to a flying start in front of goal, but says there is a lot more to come from his main striker yet. "When I first came in, I think Danny in his own admittance probably wasn't in the correct shape to go and perform at levels but there's a lot more to come from him. 

"He knows where the goal is, I want him to take strikes at goal. He's very Alan Shearer like, he's hard to knock off the ball, he gets himself in great positions, he can finish and he's got to realise his fitness is key and he looks sharper every week."

This was the second time Rovers won by more than a goal this season and Baraclough is hopeful that he can give some of his younger players more game time during the season: "It was nice to be able to put a couple of young lads on, Marty (Owen) has done ever so well, he's at college down in Limerick and he's earned his chance to come in. I wanted to give some time, but 2-0 is always a difficult scoreline to blood somebody but he enjoyed his couple of minutes and that gives him a boost. These lads deserve a chance and if they do well they can see the rewards and it helps them being in amongst the first team day in, day out and that'll only improve."

Just minutes after the starting line-ups were confirmed, Ian was forced to reshuffle his side as Jason McGuinness was forced to pull out due to a back spasm in the pre-match warm up, but his injury is of no major worry. "He just had a back spasm, that's it, he was fine this morning and I knew about it Thursday but he assured me everything was fine having trained yesterday but as he trained he just got a spasm and we'll see, he's a trooper, we'll look after him and he doesn't want to be out of the team."

As North and Cretaro show further signs that they are beginning to click up front, the manager believes they have the potential to be a great striking partnership this season. Despite the attacking threat he possesses, Ian also feels Mark Quigley will have a tough time breaking back into the starting line-up when he is available again. "They do (have potential), and when you have back-up of Mark Quigley and Rommy Boco who can play up there we've got really good options. Quigs will have seen it tonight and thought he wants a piece of that but he's got to earn the right to come in. 

"He's got a good reputation within the league, Iv'e seen how good he is, but he'll have to bide his time at the moment because those two look like they are beginning to click and they've got that mentality to go and play with one and other and link up to create chances for the team."